Chapter 12

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So, point by point - running to Gringots, getting the Lord's rings, then jumping into the arch of Death, getting Taylor out of the locker, magically making the connection, "Door to me!", taking the ring from Frodo, jumping onto the Eagle, on the fly getting the broom from the sizeless backpack, going through the portal, "Ahsoka, be my Padawan! ", flying the Millennium Falcon to the edge of the galaxy, "Taylor, it's the Leviathan Hive Fleet, get them under control," now into the warp and while the controlled Tyranids bite Grandpa Nurgle's ass we free Isha... and then to Konosubu, to measure by the gathered teams!

I reread the rough plan, corrected a couple of points, and decided that as a backup it would be fine. Or as a basis for fanfic if I don't get enough unreal. In light of everything I've learned, it's doable. Even isekai, it turns out, is a common thing in our world, both as a phenomenon of the general unconscious and as a natural mechanism of nature. Everything that is invented is possible.

And an owl from Hogwarts might arrive after all. And it will be a real magical owl, not a trained one from a menagerie... As I said, Mom and Dad are some kinds of demotivators.

With a sigh, I glanced at my watch. This time the quest was starting at exactly the right time as if a window had been allotted for it in some strange schedule. I took the minimum slot because as soon as I activated the quest, a menacing thing popped up:

Dear Messenger Marius!

The Delivery System reminds you that you can only use the app if you comply with the contract.

That is to say, you may cheat, but you must fulfill your duties. Otherwise, they will cut off the gas, that is, cut off the oxygen. Well, that was good for me. While you run and spread all sorts of crap, there is time to think about how to earn your first million. All the more reason to take the setting into account.

So far there were two items - magnifying glasses and a cloth. In other words stuff, we can make by the machine, taking advantage of manual labor there. Two issues are open, they are taxes and profitability. If a unit of goods is worth a hefty sum in the local currency, it does not mean that I will get anything out of all the exchanges. Plus the protection of local producers... which theoretically can be bypassed by smuggling, the fact that I'm in the bag a lot of things, and teleport will allow bypassing outposts. But then again, it's criminal, and it has its risks. Why take risks without first trying a fair business?

Expensive and small goods are extremely convenient markets. No need for warehouses, no need for caravans, and if it is also stored for a long time, then it's even gorgeous. And so they will keep such a trade tight, up to and including the physical extermination of competitors. Consequently, I must find a decent niche to grind the local currency, buy potions and bring them here, where everyone will gladly take them, as assured by the pharmacist. What do I need money for? It is clear that my father obviously will not take it into account in the dispute, but do not throw away your chance because of such a small thing? Besides, yesterday I had an idea about an interesting income here, but it again requires money there.

Plus it's always worth bearing in mind that I will be sent to more than one city there, which means that I must have something to trade along the routes there. There is, of course, the miracle artifact that allows me to make money just by walking around... which is a phone with a magic junk detector. But how often do I get an ingredient even a rare level in games? And epic? What about without boosts and premium? That's it; I don't want to wander the woods for a handful of pennies for days. Anyone who's ever seriously tried to make money in games knows that farming is in last place in terms of profitability. Normal business can not depend on luck "will fall out or not," and "I have time to rip the first or not," so the gold is made on auctions, resales, and helping the players. Yes, from a monster can fall out loot, which you sell for a thousand gold pieces, but if all the time spent on the massacre to spend processing statistics and adjustment of the addon trade, then the average comes out much higher. So huddling in dungeons and adventuring through the woods and fields is not for me.

On the other hand, I do not know the prices, the demand for reagents is also a mystery, so dull transportation of goods is waiting for me. Since I have the opportunity to generate my quests, I have to use them.

The minimum task is to join the Adventurers' Guild. True, my class, I can not even imagine but the goal is clear: to get adventurer status and access to quests, to score a quick achievement, allowing to anchor there, find out the demand and the price difference, and then organize a chain resale. In general, all the things I was going to do as soon as I earned a computer and a separate room, but in a more real world.

The ultimate challenge... I don't even know. Castles with princesses somehow do not attract, there is experience of living. To break into the elite of heroes? What am I, sick? They can kill. Too little I know about the realities of the game setting, while I need to listen more and ask questions. Along the way, building up the initial fund.

Buzz.

I got up, carefully buttoned my cape, checked my bag-there was a snack, even two snacks just in case. And I bought two dozen palm-sized scraps of cloth this morning, too. The optics were just for the moment because it was unclear how the plastic of the frames would behave on the other side of the unreal when I stepped away from it.

Ugh, well, it's time. The Old Man screwed me yesterday, but... The world turns out to change us - what's new about that? Just found out one of the previously unknown mechanisms of change. So much the better, we can somehow control it. Or at least pretend, for your peace of mind. Moreover, there is something good here: Dozhdin said almost directly that I could wait for a delivery order to London, to Diagon Alley. We couriers are on an adventure road full of wonders, and you never know where we'll end up. Maybe I'll see some real heroes, like King Arthur or Chip and Dale. By the way, there are a lot of sleeping heroes who will come at the last moment. Are these mysterious "discharges" really not based on them?

In short, life became a little scarier but also calmer at the same time. There are miracles in the world, and they have their own rules. Just like me:

Walk on the left side of the street, turn into the passageway, go under the stairs.

There was a ladder against the wall, and someone was standing on the top step. It's a dangerous business, working as a courier... Remembering to think positively, I quickly corrected myself: but I am not a courier! I am a messenger and with a capital M!

We, Messengers, don't fail anywhere and always get to the point!

That's how it turned out.

But this time I got a little farther into the woods, and it took me almost an hour to get to the road. Was I being provoked into wasting teleport charges? The more I spent, the faster I'd pay for the recharge? Maybe so, but what else could I do? I needed the charges, they were my chance for a place in the Guild.

Four archetypal classes, but I'm definitely not a warrior. Not a thief, stealth is not for me, even cookies from the kitchen only get to me by dashing. And not a healer, but a mage with a teleporter! Although we'll see, because I do not plan to join a team, and the loner's lot can be difficult.

The familiar field did not please me at all. The app did not recognize the blue prickly flowers, even thought it did not work here, but after ten minutes of walking in the dense grass, which covered a long-standing cinder with the remnants of trunks, I found one magic spike. Yes, farming is not my thing, as was said. Having set the timer I began to search further, searched about half a hectare in an hour, and found as many as four unambiguously magical plants. The blue flower was the only one.

So you wonder if it became magical after I dragged it through the unreal paths. No, it was in my bag, it was shielded. On the other hand, I finally have the goods! If they all go for the same price, then an hour here I do the equivalent of two quests, that is a whole day of anxious running! Ten coins are something. But let's see what they say at customs - there to determine the amount of duty, right? At the same time, I'll find out the prices for free.

The reality, of course, failed. The flowers were only checked for malignancy, the tax was a guest fee, except that the fabric samples were groped with interest. Here already a familiar lady-changer was watching closely, and I did not miss the chance. They didn't tell me the exact price - I had to bargain, but they specified the price of full-cut and showed me what could be done with rags, and what was better in the city. They also hinted that the residents of the city don't pay fees, but I preferred to part with the silver, poked myself in the chest with the guest pass I received, made sure it stuck and walked proudly through the gate.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

The town, as expected, has not changed. The streets are still full of people, the streets are still clean and tidy. The map with the main sights is still displayed on the phone.

This time I visited a chemical store: glassed-in cupboards with jars of strange things floating or lying around in them. The requested goods were handed out without questions, as soon as I put a bag of white powder on the counter. The only dreadful thing about the whole thing because if the cops had picked me up there at home, there would have been some unpleasant questions. Of course, I still have to be caught up, but I have faith in our law enforcement officers!

The saleswoman took my hundred grams of crushed aspirin, checked it with a magic crystal, and put the box out:

"Your dragon scales."

"Thank you. Do you assess the flowers?"

The service was rendered to me, and at the same time, they bought it. I put some of the money on the phone. I literally put it on top of the phone, tying a rubber band around the bag of coins. The points counter in the app started spinning slowly, less often than it did with the 100 bucks I got from Umrun, but nevertheless

It was only at the last moment that I realized that the tests in the Guild could be paid for, and I had nothing. It was a third cheaper than I thought it would be, but I also found out the prices: the local silver was 1 to 100 system points.

After completing the mandatory chores and making sure I had a path home open, I finally got on to more interesting things. The app plotted a route to the Adventurer's Guild, and I set off on my adventure.

On the way, I thought mostly about prices. So far I'm still a low-paying staff and it's a little sad. On the other hand, an hour in the field earned me two days' rent for a decent room here plus a good three meals a day. But that's an hour "dirty" because I had to splurge to create an order, then move here then have to come back. That's a full day's work, and I still have to make regular orders, Delivery is relentless. Damn him knows, maybe the point is that I'm discharging accumulated in the quests while running from fast food to the customer? Okay, let them, the main thing is that so far there is no benefit. Good work - yes, there is, but the benefit and super-profits so far bypassed.

Okay, let's work.

"What is your business, young master?"

Behind the counter in the Guild was a real upright fox. I picked up the scanner automatically - the strange thing is that a man with ears and an animal face can have ears and horns and other parts of other creatures. This one, I admit, could have several tails (though what would a multi-tailed one do behind the counter?), but horns? I'll have to clear up the question.

"Can you tell me, please, how do adventurers become adventurers?"

With a foxy smile, she reached under the counter, pulling out a box of some kind: "Put your hand here."

"Not nose?"

"Ah, the gentleman is joking."

Actually, not at all, but we smile and wave. The fox-registrar scrutinized the lid of the box under my fingers, and then raised her nose toward me: "I am sorry, sir, but you do not meet the requirements of the Guild."

Suddenly.

"And what are these requirements?"

"Mandatory possession of skills or spells."

I was about to raise my hand to demonstrate my signature "poke, poke, poke," but I stopped. What was I supposed to do, shine a light on the possession of an artifact?

Too bad, too bad. I wanted to use your order board.

"A young gentleman can apply to the Trade Guild. The orders of newcomers are very similar."

And she tilted her head a little to the side, smiling.

A rather strange sensation, actually. It's not a snout at all, but it has an elongated mouth and quite sharp teeth. And all this does not create the effect of being alien, she looks exactly like a beast-man. There are nosers, there are broad-mouthed, and there are beast-like ones like this. And besides the cheeks and lips beastly, flat tongue, but the voice is normal, a young woman. She has nothing to say in that voice. Illusion?

Or unreal?

I looked on the map for the "trade guild," but I asked for directions anyway. The fox was still polite - or was she? I can read her emotions only by her voice and body position. She explained, and the path indicated coincided with the one on the phone. I looked back once more at the board with the leaves, so close and so inaccessible, and went first to the courtyard, where the adventurers were engaged in their incomprehensible affairs, and then to the street.

Fail.

The merchant guild is something I'm not familiar with. There was some ancient anime about a merchant and a fox, but I don't even remember the plot. What's up with the merchants' tasks - buy ten apples and take them a thousand miles away? That's how it is with my job. What's with the order there, what's with the order here...

The mood is not spoiled, but it's always unpleasant when plans begin to change without regard to you. On the other hand, according to the terms of the setting, membership in such a guild means discounts, access to faction goods, reputation with the local authorities. Maybe even be able to buy a house. But it will all be later, but I want it right away. What can you sell here? Aspirin in powder? Pharmaceuticals disguised as "non-magical artifacts"? So they are not savages living here, the locals know how to do things I do not even guess.

But then again, on the other hand... did I have a plan for this too? I did. Then it's okay!

Cheered up, I moved toward the imposing building with its sign in the shape of an ox-drawn carriage, scanning around with my scanner. The percentage of townspeople with "disembodied body parts" was not too different from what I'd seen back home. Some, seeing my attention, said hello, friendly or not so friendly. Some passed me by indifferently. I looked at the group of adventurers carrying something like a bale on a stick, and then I looked closely. I'll have to check it out, but it's authentic.

"What's your question, man?"

Here I was greeted without a smile. Apparently, there is a need for politeness, so that nervous adventurers after adventures do not start throwing fireballs, and here the time is money.

"What does joining a guild get me? And do the merchants have some sort of order board?"

There were fewer people here, but the design seems to be typical - to the right of the common room are the doors to the dining room, to the left to some warehouses, plus the stairs to the second floor, where you can see the beginning of the corridor with the doors.

"Are you just curious?"

"I'm looking for profit."

Apparently, my reply was the right one. The man leaned against the counter and began to talk. To begin with, the Guild united merchants, that is, those who bought in one place and drove to another. Shopkeepers had their shops, as did the artisans who traded their products. "No one" wasn't liked here, but members of respected associations enjoyed the benefits, for example, the same entry fees were lower and the guest card was issued free of charge, it was enough to write in the logbook at the gate. You can buy a house in the city, once you get to the third rank, that is, the silver.

Beginners start at the seventh "porcelain" rank (so it is clay, but PR). Growth in status by the number and volume of transactions, renting a warehouse is available from the sixth. In contrast to the adventurers, personal capital and the number of items did not play a role in the status rose only on merit, rocket straight to the gold rank can not. Although there are probably ways, such as a move from one city to another their own goods ... Okay, let's remember and then specify. Also, unlike the adventurers, the former merits are not remembered here, from the "platinum" unsuccessful trader could fall back to "clay".

But discounts on assessors, discounts on hiring security guards, internal ratings of employees and agents... all of which I can't access on the seventh. The bulletin board is available, and most importantly, the internal sales.

"Is everyone's right to choose equally?"

"According to the rules yes..."

"But life is life."

We smirked at the same time. Understandably, good merchandise is allowed to get to the right people sooner, but that's the way it is everywhere.

"All right, what do I need from you for the registration?"

"A sponsor or a certificate of your reliability."

I wondered. I don't know anyone here, and I don't even have anything to bribe them with. I looked at my phone, opened my own status in the app at random: "Is it working?"

Without surprise, the manager took a box from the shelf, pulled out a rod with a ball on the end, and held it over the phone. The ball blinked, and the man hummed: "Acceptable, we haven't had visitors from afar in a long time, but it'll work."

I was given a token, a simple sign half the size of my palm, with the city seal on one side and the same carriage on the other. I mechanically scanned it:

External device detected.

For connection, it is necessary to combine with the application.

I looked thoughtfully at the man and placed the token on top of the phone. A short hiss, a vibration like a bell, and the clay token suddenly began to crumble. Only there were no crumbs left, it melted, sinking into the screen. We watched for almost a minute, and when the token dissolved completely the manager held his wand over the phone one more time, and making sure that it was blinking, he agreed:

"That's just as well. Although, of course, it kind of weird."

There's another tab in the Deliveries app. My gut feeling tells me that I will now be charging a percentage of my local deals there as well.

"Are you trading the junk left by the adventurers?"

"Do you need something specific or what?"

"Used but still wearable pieces of armor and ammunition. Bags, boots, belts. No weapons."

It was explained to me that several people in the city dealt with this kind of product, but if I needed cheap and high quality, it was better to go to one particular person... I sighed inwardly and agreed. They will strip the newbie, I give you my word. But what I can do?

After agreeing on a deadline, I quickly browsed the ad board. Delivery there, delivery there - it was all so familiar, so disgusting. Well, at least I wouldn't have to beat the rats in the basement or the bunnies on the edge of the forest. I'll be the one hiring adventurers now!

Well, now that we're done here, we must get on to the next most important thing. I turned to the manager, cleared my throat, and inquired businesslike:

"Colleague, can you advise me, where is a decent brothel around here?"

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